Cubs beat Astros 5-2

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HOUSTON(AP) -- Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Silva wasn't happy
after losing two straight games. He never lost confidence that
he could turn things around.

On Monday night he got back on track, yielding five hits and one
run with four strikeouts to get his 10th win of the season as
the Cubs beat the Astros 5-2.

Geovany Soto drove in two runs and Alfonso Soriano had two
doubles and an RBI to help in the win.

"If those two games were going to take me out of the year I've
been having, then I'm very poor in my mentality," Silva said.
"So that's why I said: 'I'm not concerned at all.' We're human.
We're going to have bad games and the only thing you've got to
do is keep working and that's what I do."

Cubs manager Lou Piniella was impressed with his work.

"Quite an improvement over his last start," Piniella said of a
game where he allowed seven hits and five runs in one inning
against Houston. "We were expecting a better performance and we
got it."

Carlos Marmol allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth inning for
his 19th save in 23 opportunities.

Soto bruised his left foot and left the game in the middle of
the sixth inning after fouling a pitch off of it earlier in the
game.

Piniella said Soto would be doubtful for Tuesday's game but they
hope he can return on Wednesday.

Derrek Lee doubled with one out in the third inning and scored
when Marlon Byrd grounded into a force out. Byrd scored when
Soriano hit his second double of the game that made it 4-1.

Soriano doubled in the second inning after Byrd walked. Soto
scored both of them with his double to the corner of left field
to give Chicago a 2-1 lead.

Ryan Theriot hit his first home run of the season on a solo shot
to left field in the sixth inning that pushed Chicago's lead to
5-1. It was his first home run since last June, a span of 700 at
bats, which was the longest active streak without a homer in the
major league.

Michael Bourn doubled before scoring on a single by Lance
Berkman that made it 1-0 in the first inning. Hunter Pence drove
in a run on a single in the seventh inning to get Houston within
5-2.

Chris Johnson singled in the first inning to extend his
career-long hitting streak to 10 games. He is the first Houston
rookie to reach the mark since Luke Scott did it in 2006. He
added a second single in the eighth inning.

Converted reliever Wesley Wright (0-1) allowed eight hits and
four runs in five innings in his second career major league
start. He was replaced by Nelson Figueroa, who gave up three
hits and a run in two innings.

"Wesley was throwing the ball well and had good stuff," Houston
manager Brad Mills said. "He was getting behind hitters throwing
his fastball in the second and third innings, and that was
crucial. He couldn't use his curveball."

Wright said he might have been a little worked up for this
start.

"I think in the first couple innings I was excited with this
being my first home start, so I was overthrowing a little bit
trying to get ahead of the hitters," he said. "They got a really
good hitting team, and when you get in a hole, they make you pay
for it."

Koyie Hill replaced Soto after he left with the injury.

Justin Berg replaced Silva (10-4) and gave up five hits and a
run in 1 2-3 innings.

Notes: Cubs reliever Andrew Cashner met the team in Houston on
Monday after staying home in Chicago on Sunday to recover from a
sore throat. He received antibiotics and then took a commercial
flight to Houston to join the team before Monday's game.
Piniella said he was feeling better after his day of rest and
Cashner faced one batter in the seventh inning, retiring Carlos
Lee. ... Houston RHP Jeff Fulchino, on the disabled list with
right elbow tendinitis, started a rehabilitation assignment with
Triple-A Round Rock on Monday. He allowed one hit in a scoreless
inning. ... The Astros still aren't sure when RHP Brian Moehler
will return after he experienced tightness in his strained right
hamstring while throwing a simulated game on Friday. ... A fan
got removed from the park in the ninth inning when he toppled
over the railing and onto the field on his stomach trying to
reach for a foul ball.